News

As we pass the typical midpoint of late-run Kenai king and sockeye salmon runs, a quick rundown of the numbers highlights this year’s management challenges and expectations for the rest of the year. Kenai Late-Run Kings • Record low returns have required extreme fishery measures in an attempt to meet escapement goals. • Thru July … + read more

This year’s record low return of Kenai kings has led to unprecedented closures of the king salmon sport fishery and the commercial east side set net salmon fishery, and prohibition of king retention in the personal use fishery. Even with these unprecedented closures, it is highly unlikely that the minimum escapement goal for Kenai kings … + read more

The salmon fisheries in Upper Cook Inlet have always been volatile and contentious, but the 2012 season has raised the bar on “volatile” because of a record low run of late-run king salmon bound back to the Kenai River. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) does not anticipate achieving the minimum objective for … + read more

In response to the smallest return of late-run Kenai River king salmon ever observed the sport and commercial fisheries managers of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) have issued Emergency Orders putting in place unprecedented restrictive actions. As of 12:01 am Thursday, July 19 the Kenai River was closed to sportfishing for king … + read more

By July 13, typically 25% of the final return of the late-run Kenai River king salmon has entered the river. At this point of the return, what does the in-season assessment tell us? How will the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) react to evaluation of the data? What will be the justification for … + read more